Belgium and the Netherlands recorded the highest job vacancy rates within the European Union in the fourth quarter of 2024, according to data released by Eurostat on Tuesday.
Both countries recorded job vacancy rates of 4.1%. For Belgium, this represents a decrease from the third quarter of 2024 (4.2%) and the fourth quarter of 2023 (4.4%).
In Belgium, the job vacancy rate was higher in the services sector (5.4% at the end of 2024) than in industry and construction (3.8%).
In the fourth quarter of 2024, the job vacancy rate was 2.5% in the euro area and 2.3% in the entire European Union. The lowest rates were observed in Bulgaria, Poland, and Romania (each at 0.7%), followed by Spain (0.9%).
Job vacancy statistics provide insights into unmet demand for labour.
